Simulated football game



April 24, 1956 E WESTBRQQK 2,743,105

SIMULATED FOOTBALL GAME Filed April 16, 1955 SCORE FIG. I.

"SCHEDULE 0F MOVES Predicted plays Inventor ERIC WESTBROOK Attorney United States Patent SIMULATED FOOTBALL GAME Eric Westbrook, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, assignor of one-half to Walter Moore, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Application April 16, 1953, Serial No. 349,143

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-94) This invention relates to improvements in a game and appertains particularly to one in which two or more players or contestants are evenly divided to represent opposing football teams or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a game in which skill and chance' comingle in the progress of the players representing the team in possession and such progress is modified by the ability of the players representing the defending team to predict the successive plays attempted by the offensive team, the scoring values of the plays in combination with their chances of success being closely related to the normal possibilities of the corresponoding plays under like circumstances in a real game.

A further object of the invention is to provide an interesting game ofv almost unlimited variety of plays and final outcome that requires only simple yet novel media, and some pieces of which are used by one team and different kind of pieces by the other team, with scoring schedules for interpreting the values of the offensive teams plays subject to the defensive teams success in predicting such plays. Y

To the accomplishment of these and related objects as shall become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

The invention will be best understood and can be more clearly described when reference is had to the drawings forming a part of this disclosure wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan of a playing board laid out to represent a football playing field;

Figure 2 shows a set of tive play-prediction cards; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a pair of dice.

Fig. 4 shows a portion. of the schedule of moves in two sections.

:The playing board 1l bearsl the representation of a football playing eld 2 with the yardages graduated thereon running from the 5 yards line in front of opposite goals to the 55 yards line at center. Additionally, to record the progress of the game, a column of Plays 3 is provided that has thirty-tive numbered spaces. Score boxes 5, with a space for each of the four quar-` ters are also provided for each player or team of players and may consist of pads of removable sheets or have erasable surfaces as here shown. Movable over the face of the'playing iield 2 is a playing piece 6 representing'a football that after each play yshould be placed on the designated yard line. A pair of yard sticks 7, connected by a line 8 of a length corresponding with a space of ten yards on the playing field, are movable along the side line ofthe field as required. A Plays marker 9 to keep account of the number of plays is movable along the column 3 and a Downs marer' 10 is similarly movable along the box 4. One convenient vway of forming the board 1 is to make itl of soft impingeable material and to provide the vfootball playing piece v6, 4yard sticks 7, and the Plays and Downs markers 9 and ice 10 with integral pins or tines, enabling them to be stuck Vinto the board at will. Dowellike pegs insertable in drilled holes in the board could be employed instead of the impngeable board and pins.

The playing media or apparatus consists, in addition to the playing board 1 and its associated parts already described, of a chance number selector here shown as a pair of dice 11, a set of play prediction cards 12 and a Schedule of Moves 13.

The play prediction cards 12, all with plain or similar backs, each bear the designation on its face of one of the five basic plays attempted by the player or team in possession, hereinafter called the oiensive player or team, the card designations being End Run, Kick, Lateral, Pass, and Plunge respectively. This set of play prediction cards is used by the opposiing player or team, called the defensive. i i y The dice 11 are rolled bythe olensive team or player, that is also charged with properly moving the ball 6, yard sticks 7 and Plays and Downs markers 9 and 10.

The Schedule of Moves 13 consists of two sections, viz., Predicted plays A and Not predicted plays B, the details ofV which follow with carefully estimated move values. Move values in accordance with the count of the dice rolled by the offensive team are taken from the Predicted section A if the defensive `team selected the proper play prediction card 12 and from the Not predicted section B if rthe defensive team failed in its play prediction.

SCHEDULE OF MOVES Predicted plays and kicks (part A) Long Forward Short Forward 2-25 Yard Gain. 3-15 Yard Gain. 4-10 Yard Gain.

2-35 Yard Gain 3-25 Yard Gaim... 4-10 Yard Gaim...

-Incomplete -ilncomplete-retains possess on. -Xlntrceptiom lose ball andv 15 6-Interception, lose ball.

ar s. 7-15 Yard Gain 7-10 Yard Gain. S-Incomplete 8-15 Yard Loss.

9Interception, lose ball 9-5 Yard Loss.

10-15 Yard Gain 10--10 Yard Gain. 11-30 Yard Gain. 11-15 Yard Gain. 12-40 Yard Gain..- l2-20 Yard Gain.

To Right 2-10 Yard Gain. 3-20 Yard Gain. 4-5 Yard Gain. 5--10 Yard Loss. 6-5 Yard Gain.

7-5 Yard Loss.

8-10 Yard Loss. 9-Fumble-lose ball. IO-No Gain. 11-15 Yard Gain. 12-25 Yard Gain.

PIUNGES,

2,743,105 Y I A To Left Over Centre To Right 2-25 Yard Gain. 2w-20`Yard Gain.... 3-10 Yard Gain- 4.-10 Yard Loss 5-5 Yard Loss G-Fumhle but rccover-no gain,

6--5 Yard Gain 1.

2-15 Yard Gain. 3--10 Yard: Gain 4-6 YarcLLoss.

11.- Yard Gaim 12--25 Yard Gain- 12-20' Yard' Gain.4

LATE RAL To Lett To Right 2-25 Yard Gain 3-10 Yard Gain... 4-5Yard Gain -Fumble but recover-No Gaim... 6-5 Yard Loss 7-Fumble-lose ball. 8-5 Yard Gain 5)-5 Yard Loss,...

2-25 Yard Gain. 3-15 Ynrd Gain. 4-No Gain.

5-5 Yard Gain. 6-10 YardV Gain. 7-5 Yard Loss. S-Fumbler-losefball. 9-5 Yard Gain. 10-5 Yard Gain. 11-10 Yard Gain.

12-20 Yard Gain 12H5 Yard Guin.

Not predicted plays and kicks (part B) PASSES Long Forward Short Forward 2-Run for a touchdown. 3-35 Yard Gain 4-20 Yard Gain...-.

5-Interceptiouwlose ball. 6-Incomplete 7-10 Yard Gain 8-15 Yard Gain 9-10 Yard Gain lO-Intercepton-lose ball and 10 Yard Gain for Interception.

11-40 Yard Gain 12-55 Yard Gain 2-35 Yard Gain.

3-25 Yard Gain.

4-15 Yard Gain. -Fnmble-lose ball.

6-5 Yard Loss.

7--10 Yard Gain.

8-5 Yard Loss, Y Q-Fumble but recover on lst down. 10-10 Yard Gain.

11-15 Yard Gain. 12-30 Yard Gain.

PLUNGES To Left Over Centre To Right 2-25 Yard Gain 3-15 Yard Gain- 2-25 Yard Gaim.-. 3-15 YardGain-...

2-20 Yard Gain. 3-10 Yard- Gain;

12-25 Yard Gain-.1'.

10-10 Yard Loss.... 11-15Xard Gain-.. 12-30 Yard Gain..-

10-10 Yard Gain. 11-15 Yardv Gain. 12-20 Yard Gain.

END RUNS To Left To Right 2-25 Yard Goin- 3-20 Yard Gain 12-25 Yard Ginn .I

2-20 Yard Gain. 3-25 Yard Gain. 4-10 Yard' Gain; 5-5 Yard' Gain.

(Zr-10 Yard Gain. 7-5 Yard Gain;

8-10 Yard Loss;

. 9-10 Yard Loss.

10-5 Yard- Gain: 11-20 Yard Gain. 12-30 Yard Gein;

IJATE RAILS To Leit To Right 2-30 Yard Gain 2-25 Yard Gain. 3-15 Yard Gain. 4-5 Yard Gain. 5-10 Yard Gain. 6-.-5.Yard Loss. 7--N0Gainl 8-10 Yard Loss. 95;Yard Gain. 10-10 Yard Gain. 11--15 Yard Gain.

12-25 Yard` Gam I 12-2o Yard Gain.

KICKS Fleld'(or Punts) 2-75 Yards. 8-55 Yards. 3-65 Yards. 9-45 Yards. 4-55 Yards. 10-50 Yards. 5-551Yards. ll-GO Yards. 6-'60.Yards. 12-70 Ynrds. 7-45 Yards.

Followingris` a modified. schedule of values for Kicks:

KICKS Punts Run Kiek Oft Back. Run Convert Placernt Yardsl Pre., N Back l Yards Yards Yards 265 Yds- 4o eo` 15. 25 Yesm.- No. 3--60 Yds. 30 55 65 15 Yes.-... Yes 4-55 Yds. 25` 50 55 10 No No. 550.Yd5..--. 20 45v 55 5 Yes...-. Yes 6-45 YdS.-... 16 50 60 15 Yes..... Yes. 7-40 Yds....- 10 t 40f 45 10 Yes..,.. No. 8 5 15 45 55 10 No Yes 9-50 Yds. 20 35 45 15- Yes.-... Yes 10-55'Yds... 25 45 50 5 Yes.-... Yes 11-60 Yds..- 30 50 60 20 Yes.-... No. 12,-65 Yds..-. 35 55 70 35 Yes..... Yes.

Using, the apparatus, and or media thus described, the rules and manner of playing the game are as follows:

Y Howv to play The game may be played by two, four or six players,`

equally divided into two teams.

The dice are rolled to determine which team will kickod. The team rolling the highest count on the dice may choose to receive the ball or to kick-off. The team kickf ing off in the first quarter will receive at the beginning of the thirdiquarter and vice versa.

Kick-0]? and kickmf return The playing piece representing the ball is placeda on the 45 yard line of the team'kickingV off and the dice are then rolled. If they number rolledvis a 3, the kickoi columnof the Schedule. of Moves s consulted revea1- ing that the ball will travel 55 yards on the kick-olf. The ball marker is now moved 55 yards in the direction of the receiving team or.. to the receiving teams 10 yard line, as seen irrFigure 1. The receiving team now rolls the dicefor the kick-olf return. If the roll is an 11, the: kick-olf Run Back column is consulted and it'will be seen thatr the runback is 20 yards, moving theball to` thexreceiving teams 30 yard line. We are now ready for the first-play from scrimmage;

Plays from scrimmage The-defensive teamV (the team not havingpossession of'the ball) now selects one of the ve defensive cards` The and the offensive team then states its play (a pass, lateral, end-run, plunge or kick) and rolls the dice.

The defensive card is now turned yover and if the play has been correctly predicted the Predicted column onV the Schedule of Moves is consulted and if not the Not predictedr column of the given play is consulted to de-A termine the yards gained or lost and the playing piece representing the ball moved accordingly.

It should also be noted that the offensive team must state which of the two variations of each play it desiredthat is, when a pass is called it should be stated which of the two types of passes is desired, a long pass or a short pass. Similarly, an end-run should be called in terms of an end-run left or right; a plunge, "left, right or over center, and a lateral to the left or to the right, all as provided for on the Schedule of Moves.

The purpose of the offensive team is to gain l0 yards or more in three or less downs (or attempts). 'Ihe purpose of the defensive team is to prevent this form occurring, as by the skilful selection of the proper play prediction card whereby the gains of the offensive team are smaller.

Sample plays from scrimmage If the offensive team hasV the ball on its own 30 yard line, one ten yard marker is placed at the side of the playing field at the 30 yard line and the other on the 40 yard line. The downs marker is moved to the lst down position.

The defensive team selects a play prediction card, as

f an example, say a lateral.. The offensive team states its play, as an example an end-run to the left and the dice rolled, the count appearing on them say is 7. Since the play was not predicted, the not predicted column of an end-run to the left is consulted to determine the yardage gained. Thedice roll was 7 therefore the gain is 15 yards. Theball marker is moved to the offensive teams 45 yard line, the ten yard markers to the 45 and 55 yard sideline positions. Again it is lst down and ten yards to go. On the next play the defensive team predicts a plunge The offensive team calls for a plunge over center and rolls a 4. The play is predicted and the yardage column for this play indicates a l0 yard loss. The ball marker is moved back to the 35 yard line. The downs marker is moved to the 2nd downs position, while the 10 yard markers remain unchanged. It is now 2nd down and 2() yards to go. On the next play the offensive team calls a lateral to the right, which the defensive team has not predicted. The dice roll is a 9 and therefore there is a gain of 5 yards, moving the ball to the 40 yard line. It is now 3rd down and 15 yards to go.

On the next play, under such conditions, the offensive team will normally call for a punt (fleld kick) which like other plays the defensive team must endeavour to predict. Failure to do so will result in the non-predicted column of the punt to be used in determining the distance of the offensive teams punt. In the sample under consideration we will assume that the punt is predicted and the dice roll is a l0. Therefore the length of the punt is 45 yards. This moves the ball to the defensive teams 35 yard line and this defensive or receiving team will now run back the punt.

The team returning the punt (formerly the defensive but now the offensive team) rolls the dice and consults the punt return column. If the dice roll should be a 7 then the run-back is l0 yards, moving the ball to the 35 yard line. (The formerly defensive team is now the offensive team and vice versa.) The ten yard markers are moved to 35 and 45 yard sidelines respectively and the downs marker moved to the lst down position. The team now in possession of the ball will attempt to move the ball in the direction of the formerly offensive teams goal.

Abbreviations F: Indicates a fumble. The offensive team loses possession of the ball, the defensive team takes possession of the ball at the point where the fumble occurred.

FR: Indicates a fumble, but recovered. The offensive keeps possession offthe ball.

First D: Fumble but recovered, first down. The ball fumbled by the offensive team, touched by the defensive team, but recovered by the offensive.

I: Indicates an interception of a pass. The defensive team intercepts a pass and takes possession of the ball. If the I is followed by a number, the team intercepting the pass also gains the number of yards indicated.

Inc: Indicates an incomplete forward pass-the team attempting the pass retains possession of the ball, but there is no gain on the play and of course counts as a down.

Scoring Touchdown: A touchdown is scored when the yardage gained on a play is sufficient to carry the ball over the goal line. A touchdown is Worth 5 points.

Convert: After a touchdown the team scoring the touchdown attempts a convert. The dice are rolled and the convert column isvconsulted to determine whether the attempt was successful. A convert is worth l point.

After a touchdown the team scored against has the choice of kicking-otf or receiving the ball.

Safety: A safety is scored if the team in possession of the ball is forced back over its own goal line. Example: if the offensive team has the ball on its own 5 yard line and loses 10 yards on a play-this places the ball 5 yards in the offensive teams end zone and the so-called defensive team is credited with 2 points.

After a safety the team scored against puts the ball into play on its 25 yard line.

Field goal: If the team in possession of the ball moves to the opponents 25 yard line or any distance closerto the opponents goal lineit may, so long as it is Within this area, attempt a field goal. The offensive team states that it will attempt a field goal, rolls the dice, and then consults the field goal column to see if the attempt was successful. lf it is, the offensive team is credited with 3 points.

If it fails, then' the kick is considered as a punt, the dice being rolled again and the punt column consulted toV determine the yardage of the punt.

After a field goal the team scored against takes possession of the ball on its 40-yard line.

Rouge: A rouge is scored when the offensive team punts the ball into the defensive teams end zone and the defensive teams punt return is not sufficient to carry the ball out of the end zone to at least its goal line. A rouge is worth l point.

After a rouge the team scored against takes possession of the ball on its 25 yard line.

Kick to deadline: A kick to the deadline is scored when the offensive team punts the ball beyond the defensive teams end zone-that is more than 20 yards beyond the defensive teams goal line. A kick to deadline is Worth l point.

After a kick to the deadline, the team scored against takes possession of the ball on its 40 yard line.

Timing: The garneis divided into 4 quarters and there are 35 plays in each quarter. After each play the play maker is moved one space. Kick-off returns, punt returns, converts and penalties do not count as a play.

Penalties: If the offensive team calls a play before the defensive team has selected the defensive card-a loss of 10 yards.

If the offensive team fails to move the 10 yard markers, the ball marker, or the downs marker to the correct position-a loss of 5 yards for each oense.

If the offensive team fails to move the play marker after a play has occurred-a loss of 10 yards.

scope thereof, itf is intended Vthat all matters-contained in.

the said accompanying specification ande. drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitative orgrestrictive sense.

Havingthus described thezinvention what is claimedfas.

new is:

l. Az football game apparatus comprisingin, combination aplaying board bearing therepresentation ofa footf ball `fieldA thereon, a playingpiece representing a football.

movably positioned on said playing board, a chance. num-A ber selector, a set of play prediction cards each designating one of the plays attempted'in a football game, and a schedule. of moves for directing movement of saidfootball representing playing piece having alternative columns of'values designated predicted plays and not predicted plays foreach of the plays identified by the play prediction cards, each ofthe columns of values for each of the plays having asmany different football moving. directions asthere are different numbers on the chance .selectorand being numbered to correspondto the numberson the chance number selector wherebyl one player chooses oneof. theplay predictionv cards and the other` player declareshis proposed play and actuatesthe. chance number selector; the4 schedule ofmoves being then referred to and the predicted plays or` not predicted plays columnbeing `used depending on whether or not the said other players intended play declaredbefore actuatingsaid chance number selector was. correctly predicted by said rst players selected card.

2., A football game apparatus comprising in combina tion,.a playing board bearingthe representation of a football feldthereon, a playing( piece representing a football.

movably positioned on said playngnboard, a pair of mov able membersheld in limited spaced relation by a connecting line insertable in said playing board along one edgeof therepresentation of the football eld, and media for determining the movement of said football represent ing@ playing p iece over the face of the football field representing-playing board comprising apair of dice useable as a means of chance selecting any number from two to twelve inclusive, a` set of ive play prediction'cards. each bearing one of the following. play designations. on one.

face thereof End run, Kick, Lateral, Pass, Plungeffrespectively, and a schedule` of moves having alternative ,columns of values designated predicted plays" and notpredicted plays for each of the said ve plays.

identifiedA by the play prediction cards; each of the alternative columns of values for-each of the plays having eleven" different play values numbered from two to twelve inclusive to correspond-to the numbers on the said chance number selector dice.

3. A' footballV game apparatus, for use by players divided into two teams called the offensive and defensive respectively, comprising in combination a playing board bearingthe` representation of a football eld thereon,.a playing piece representing a football movably positioned on-said playing board, a pair of movable members heldin limited spaced relation by a connecting line insertable in said playing board along one edge of the representation'of the football field for designating the area the offensive"team must gain to retain the otfensivef a pair of 'dice useable by the offensive team for chancepredicted plays for each of the plays identified by the,-

play prediction cards, each of the columns of valuesfor each Aofi the plays having eleven different football moving4 directions and numbered successively from two to. twelve to correspond with the counts obtainable on` the throw of the said dice, and the alternative predicted plays or not predicted; plays column of the schedule` of moves being referred to for determiningthe move of the` playing piece depending on whether or not thefde fensivei team playersselection of a play prediction` card was a` correct forecast of the offensive team players play declared by him following the selection of the said card by', the. defensive team player and before the offensive team player uses the said dice to obtain a chance selected number.

References CitedV in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wittkowski Jan. 6, 1925 Gregg Aug. 17, 1926 

